About the Lion Kings Basketball Team
The Lion Kings Basketball Team was founded on March 13, 2004 by Christopher Carby and Doorley “Ray” Codling, built on a vision of excellence in basketball and mentorship for life. The idea for the team came from Carby, who had previously won the Whole Life Ministries Churches Basketball League Championship in 2000 as player/coach and appeared in the finals for three straight years. These experiences inspired him to create a team dedicated not only to winning games, but to shaping lives.
The team originally played under the original name: Disciple Kings, competing in the NPG Division One League starting in 2004. From the beginning, the focus was clear: use basketball as a platform to mentor young men and women, teaching discipline, teamwork, leadership, and life skills that will last far beyond the court.
Over the years, the program was guided by dedicated leaders, including the legendary Ian “ESPN” Anderson, whose passion and commitment helped strengthen the team’s culture and competitive spirit, across several seasons.
Today, the Lion Kings are once again led by Carby, continuing the mission that he started in 2004. The team now competes in the Marco‑Polo Summer Basketball League and the GK‑One Howard McCatty Basketball Summer League, proudly representing our community while preparing young athletes for success both on and off the court.
From Disciple Kings to Lion Kings, our purpose has never changed. We remain committed to building champions in basketball and in life through mentorship, unity, and faith in the power of discipline and teamwork.